NEW HOSPITALITY BUSINESS
FINALIST
THE TRUFFLED HOG
Resolution Media and Publishing writer and events manager Julie Burniston presents the Best New Hospitality Business award to Ashley Thirlwell , left , and Jules France , right , of Space Meetings and Events .
The Truffled Hog is a Stokesley-based deli / wine bar based on Mediterranean values and design , specialising in chef-led small plates , cheese and charcuterie .
Founded by Laura Hall in 2021 , the Truffled Hog is a Covid success story . The building was leased and the fit-out underway when the UK went into its first lockdown , so Laura pivoted the business to create momentum and a customer base .
She hand-made and delivered more than 1,200 boxes of “ lockdown joy ” - grazing boards of cheese and charcuterie – before completing the fit-out and opening the doors for dine-in customers in August 2021 . The Truffled Hog now has a team of 15 and continues to grow .
WINNER
SPACE MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Space founders Jules France and Ashley Thirlwell say there ’ s one key reason their business works so well – each other !
Armed with a wealth of knowledge – and a large network of contacts – from years working in the events industry , the pair took a leap of faith and set up their own agency in 2020 , not knowing Covid was about to strike and decimate the live event sector .
Reacting quickly , the pair were soon offering virtual and hybrid events and setting up a retail arm of their business to offer corporate gifting and engagement boxes .
Space M & E , based in Saltburn , Cleadon and Durham , has since successfully made more than £ 500,000 in revenue amid a pandemic when the industry was at a standstill .
And with the events scene now back up and running , it ’ s an encouraging time for the business partners , who recently flew to Gibraltar to talk about another potential contract .
Football is another key arm of the business , with Space looking after travel and other arrangements for the likes of Sunderland , Harrogate Town and Grimsby Town .
But Jules admits : “ Without Ash , I wouldn ’ t have had the nerve to do this and without me , she wouldn ’ t have had the nerve either ! “ We gave up our day jobs and we ’ re 50-50 partners in everything we do . “ Everyone kept asking us , ‘ Why are you doing this for other people ? Do it for yourselves ’. But it was having the nerve to do it and without Ash , I wouldn ’ t have had that courage .”
FINALIST
THE GREEN APPLE CAFÉ AND BISTRO
A fully licensed vegan café , bistro and takeaway , the Green Apple launched in Stokesley in October 2019 with a team of four .
The café ’ s ethos is to serve locally sourced fresh produce from a wide and diverse menu that celebrates good quality food and helps customers do their bit for the planet .
All take-out packaging is made from plants , as is the delicious cheesecake ( made from lentils ) and the hot dogs ( made from peas !).
The Green Apple has gone from strength to strength , creating eight jobs for local people , securing corporate contracts with Quorn and Chapel Garth Estates and winning a Traveller ’ s Choice Award with Trip Advisor .
92 | Tees Business